Use of hardwood mulch applications to improve soil characteristics of Alfisols used in Florida citrus production
IntroductionImproving soil fertility is a top priority in Florida’s citrus growing regions, especially in the age of Huanglongbing (HLB; also known as citrus greening). This disease severely reduces fine root mass, causes higher incidences of nutrient deficiencies, and eventually results in the deat...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Soil Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2023.1200847/full |
| _version_ | 1797663191508975616 |
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| author | Lukas M. Hallman John M. Santiago John-Paul Fox Marco Pitino Robert G. Shatters Lorenzo Rossi |
| author_facet | Lukas M. Hallman John M. Santiago John-Paul Fox Marco Pitino Robert G. Shatters Lorenzo Rossi |
| author_sort | Lukas M. Hallman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionImproving soil fertility is a top priority in Florida’s citrus growing regions, especially in the age of Huanglongbing (HLB; also known as citrus greening). This disease severely reduces fine root mass, causes higher incidences of nutrient deficiencies, and eventually results in the death of affected trees. Additionally, the soils commonly found in Florida’s citrus growing regions are sandy (greater than 98%) and naturally low in fertility, making the nutrient management of HLB-affected trees even more challenging. As a result, interest in organic amendments to increase soil fertility are being tested. Although hardwood chip mulches are successfully used in other regions of the country, no studies exist observing their use on the soils in Florida’s citrus growing regions; therefore, the objectives of this study were to measure the impacts of hardwood oak mulch on (i) Florida Alfisols characteristics and (ii) HLB-affected citrus trees.MethodsA two-treatment field study using 6-year-old ‘Valencia’ sweet orange trees (Citrus × sinensis) grafted on US-812 (C. reticulata × C. trifoliata) rootstock was conducted in Florida’s Indian River District (IRD). The experimental treatment consisted of 0.08 m of hardwood chip mulch sourced from oak trees applied every September for 3 years (2020, 2021, and 2022) while the control treatment had no mulch applied. Soil chemical and physical properties, leaf nutrient concentration, and leaf Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) titer was collected in the fall (October), winter (January), spring (April), and summer (July).Results and discussionOverall, after 3 years, oak mulch applications increased soil available phosphorus (32%), potassium (66%), magnesium (71%), organic matter (49%), and moisture (25-88%, depending on the season); however, oak mulch inconsistently impacted leaf nutrient concentrations and was not effective at suppressing HLB. The results show that annual applications of hardwood oak mulch can improve the chemical and physical properties of sandy soils within three years, however, these improvements did not reduce the severity of HLB. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T19:10:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-416f981573b44301a2b42a3cef043acc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-8619 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T19:10:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Soil Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-416f981573b44301a2b42a3cef043acc2023-10-09T13:57:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Soil Science2673-86192023-10-01310.3389/fsoil.2023.12008471200847Use of hardwood mulch applications to improve soil characteristics of Alfisols used in Florida citrus productionLukas M. Hallman0John M. Santiago1John-Paul Fox2Marco Pitino3Robert G. Shatters4Lorenzo Rossi5Horticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Indian River Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL, United StatesHorticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Indian River Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL, United StatesHorticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Indian River Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL, United StatesPlant Pathology Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Indian River Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL, United StatesHorticultural Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services, Ft. Pierce, FL, United StatesHorticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Indian River Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL, United StatesIntroductionImproving soil fertility is a top priority in Florida’s citrus growing regions, especially in the age of Huanglongbing (HLB; also known as citrus greening). This disease severely reduces fine root mass, causes higher incidences of nutrient deficiencies, and eventually results in the death of affected trees. Additionally, the soils commonly found in Florida’s citrus growing regions are sandy (greater than 98%) and naturally low in fertility, making the nutrient management of HLB-affected trees even more challenging. As a result, interest in organic amendments to increase soil fertility are being tested. Although hardwood chip mulches are successfully used in other regions of the country, no studies exist observing their use on the soils in Florida’s citrus growing regions; therefore, the objectives of this study were to measure the impacts of hardwood oak mulch on (i) Florida Alfisols characteristics and (ii) HLB-affected citrus trees.MethodsA two-treatment field study using 6-year-old ‘Valencia’ sweet orange trees (Citrus × sinensis) grafted on US-812 (C. reticulata × C. trifoliata) rootstock was conducted in Florida’s Indian River District (IRD). The experimental treatment consisted of 0.08 m of hardwood chip mulch sourced from oak trees applied every September for 3 years (2020, 2021, and 2022) while the control treatment had no mulch applied. Soil chemical and physical properties, leaf nutrient concentration, and leaf Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) titer was collected in the fall (October), winter (January), spring (April), and summer (July).Results and discussionOverall, after 3 years, oak mulch applications increased soil available phosphorus (32%), potassium (66%), magnesium (71%), organic matter (49%), and moisture (25-88%, depending on the season); however, oak mulch inconsistently impacted leaf nutrient concentrations and was not effective at suppressing HLB. The results show that annual applications of hardwood oak mulch can improve the chemical and physical properties of sandy soils within three years, however, these improvements did not reduce the severity of HLB.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2023.1200847/fullcitrus greeningsoil fertilityorganic mattersoil moisturesandy soil |
| spellingShingle | Lukas M. Hallman John M. Santiago John-Paul Fox Marco Pitino Robert G. Shatters Lorenzo Rossi Use of hardwood mulch applications to improve soil characteristics of Alfisols used in Florida citrus production Frontiers in Soil Science citrus greening soil fertility organic matter soil moisture sandy soil |
| title | Use of hardwood mulch applications to improve soil characteristics of Alfisols used in Florida citrus production |
| title_full | Use of hardwood mulch applications to improve soil characteristics of Alfisols used in Florida citrus production |
| title_fullStr | Use of hardwood mulch applications to improve soil characteristics of Alfisols used in Florida citrus production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of hardwood mulch applications to improve soil characteristics of Alfisols used in Florida citrus production |
| title_short | Use of hardwood mulch applications to improve soil characteristics of Alfisols used in Florida citrus production |
| title_sort | use of hardwood mulch applications to improve soil characteristics of alfisols used in florida citrus production |
| topic | citrus greening soil fertility organic matter soil moisture sandy soil |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2023.1200847/full |
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